Northern Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance was a branch of the Renaissance that existed in northern Europe (primarily Flanders), driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the church. This contrasted with the mythology-inspired Renaissance movement in Italy, and the Northern Renaissance was more concerned about people losing their religions and regaining their piety than Italy. The Renaissance continued the late medieval attention to details, had an emphasis on middle-class life, tended to use realism and naturalism (and not so much of "classical idealism"), detailed domestic interiors and landscapes, used anamorphism in some works, and showed great skill in portraiture. Symbolism was also used, although these references were subliminal in order to avoid the Catholic Church or rulers censoring works of art. Famous painters of the era were Jan van Eyck, Quentyn Matsys, Ambrosius Holbein, Bernard van Orley, Rogier van der Weyden, and Hans Holbein the Younger, among others.